By The Rev. Dr. Paul A. Leggett
Sunday, March 6, 2011 · Transfiguration of the Lord
Sermon Text: Mark 9:2-8
Sermon Theme
Peter, James and John knew Jesus but they did not know him fully. They actually thought they knew him more than they did. They knew Jesus in the context of his earthly ministry. They saw his power and heard his teaching. On the Mount of Transfiguration they see him in the presence of the two greatest Old Testament prophets, Elijah and Moses. Yet they are still only seeing him through a cloud, like seeing dimly in a mirror (I Corinthians 13:12). Peter want to glorify Jesus along with Moses and Elijah, making a dwelling for each of them. This implies that Jesus is on the same level as Moses and Elijah. Yet the climax of the event occurs when the disciples hear the voice of God the Father testifying to Jesus uniquely as his Son, the Beloved (Mark 9:7). Finally the disciples see only Jesus. We need to see Jesus alone in order to see him clearly.
Sermon Outline
- Context. None of us sees Jesus directly at first. We see in a context. In reality we first experience Jesus indirectly through the witness of his followers. Scripture is the inspired, infallible written testimony of a great cloud of witnesses (Hebrews 12:1). This witness has been passed on throughout generations. Parents, Sunday School teachers, evangelists and pastors all play a role in telling us about Jesus. Our first encounter with him is through the witnesses. We hear the stories of Jesus. We learn his teaching. We listen to the parables he told. This was somewhat similar to the original disciples. They only knew Jesus in human form. They saw his miracles and listened to his teaching. They found him amazing, even strange (Mark 4:41). Indirect knowledge of Jesus is real knowledge. But it is incomplete knowledge.
- Cloud. Throughout the Old Testament God always remains hidden to some extent. God speaks through a cloud (Exodus 19:9, 34:5-6, Leviticus 16:2, Numbers 11:25). Elijah waits for the Lord in the midst of a great wind, an earthquake and a fire (I Kings 19:11-13). The wind, earthquake and fire are symbols of the presence of the Lord but God is not in them. God finally speaks out of "the sound of sheer silence." The signs of God's presence cannot be a substitute for a direct encounter with the living God. Some people see the cloud, even the cloud of witnesses, and think they are seeing Jesus. The truth is they are seeing him but only indirectly as Moses could only see the back of God (Exodus 33:17-23). Peter is seeing Jesus as through a cloud. This partial knowledge of God, if left to itself, can be inadequate. Peter's proposal of three dwelling places shows his ultimate lack of understanding. There is a danger if we have only a partial and incomplete view of Jesus. Then we become like the plant with no root (Mark 4:17).
- Clarity. It is possible to follow Jesus only because we are hoping to receive some benefit. The truth is Jesus does provide benefits. He is Lord of all. Even the wind and the sea obey him. The tragedy is that there are those who follow Jesus only because he has given them bread to eat (John 6:26). This is not enough. We must get to the point of seeing Jesus himself as the bread of life (John 6:35). Jesus is not a means to an end. He did not come in order that we can have bread, security, possessions or comfort. He can in fact give us all of these and much more. He can also demand that we give up everything for his sake (Mark 10:21, Matthew 10:37-39). Jesus came that we may know him (Philippians 3:10). We only know him when we are prepared to give him everything and to follow him anywhere. There is nothing greater than Jesus. It is only when the disciples see Jesus alone that they truly see him. Elijah and Moses, as well as the rest, worship, music, spiritual fellowship, art, all earthly benefits only have their true value when they point us to Jesus. They are not the end or the goal. Only Jesus is. To paraphrase the catechism, the goal of life is to glorify him and to enjoy him forever. When we make Jesus the center he ultimately gives us everything else (Matthew 6:33). There comes a time when we have to distinguish the witness (Moses and Elijah) from the object of the witness. We need to reach the point where we see Jesus and only him (John 12:20-21).
Questions for Us
- When did you first hear of Jesus? How has he impacted your life?
- Why do you think we are often satisfied with only a degree of knowledge and experience of Jesus? Do we find comfort in the cloud which obscures him?
- Why do you think we hold back from giving Jesus everything? What do we think we can gain by not following him completely?
